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Since filming and editing videos for 31 days can feel daunting, I've created a strategy that I believe will help you thrive during this challenge. Because let's be real, it is a creative challenge!
I've decided to do Vlogtober this year for YouTube in long form video format. I'm not sure if I'm being optimistic, or if I can actually make this work. I've decided to post a video every day of October.
If you're planning to do Vlogtober this year and don't know where to start in the planning process, I recommend asking yourself "what comes easy to me?", "what is already part of my daily routine?" and "what excites me about this season?".
I created a 3 part format I'm going to follow for every video in this series. I'm going to have an intro and outro that are pretty similar in each video, and the middle of each video is going to be what I call the central theme.
My intro is going to be the content that comes easy for me, what feels most familiar, and what I enjoy filming the most: my morning routine. From my research, viewers like familiarity and repetitive content because they know what to expect and may find comfort in it. I can easily film my morning routine every day as it is my favorite part of my day and it is typically what all my other videos encompass anyway. My morning routine consists of habits I work on daily like bible study, journaling, reading and getting outside for a morning walk. I also plan to share my breakfast and drink of the morning in the intro portion of each vlog.
For my video themes, which will encompass the middle of my videos, I chose concepts that I can easily film or I know already align with things I will be doing this season. They range from crafting, baking, fall decorating, fall grocery shopping, styling fall outfits, analog activities, fall activities, and aesthetic video ideas. Some of these ideas can stand on their own, while others I might film in pairs (grocery shopping + baking).
This is where the other part of my strategy comes into play. For many reasons, I'm choosing not to film in real time, but rather I plan to start filming for Vlogtober a few days before it starts. This will take massive pressure off of me in feeling like I have to film, edit and post all in one day. It also gives me extra time to be more creative in the editing process. I know I'll feel more prepared if I already have a video or two scheduled ahead of time. If for whatever reason I don't feel like filming one day, at least I'm already ahead. I can film a ton on the weekend or on my busier days and break up that content into different videos. For example, this weekend I plan to go to the costume store, run some errands, go to the library, buy groceries, etc. I could technically make one long, eventful vlog that could stand on its own. But I think with how my day to day content looks, and with the overall vibe I want to set for my channel, I don't want that. I think breaking it up into different themed videos will actually work to my advantage. For example, when I go to the costume store, that is not all I plan to include in that video. I plan to look at what I already have at home in my closet or from previous Halloweens that I could use this year. I plan to practice my hair and makeup for this years costume. If I wanted to, I could diy part of my costume. All of this may not naturally happen on one day. I could technically include each of these activities throughout the month in different videos, but for this specific video concept, I'm combining them all together. Some of my videos will be like that where there is one theme, while others will just be a mundane day in my life with random activities sprinkled through. I think both are important to have in your video lineup.
Organization tip: if you plan to batch film, an easy way to keep videos organized in your camera roll, if filming on your phone, is to have albums. As you film, you can add each video to a categorized album. So this weekend as I run many errands and capture that content, I will organize the videos into albums dedicated to each video concept. When I go to add my videos into capcut, I can just go to that specific album rather than searching my whole camera roll. When the video is edited and uploaded to YouTube, I can either delete that album or delete the videos in that album. I'll probably do both to stay organized.
As for my outro, I just chose two concepts that can serve as an anchor to the end of each video: lighting a candle and a writing scene of me typing "to be continued...". Not only does this serve as a comfort to the viewer as it is repetitive in each video, but it also encompasses the vibe of my series and channel. My videos are often silent, with text on screen, and I'm storytelling in a cinematic way. I also want each video to have some kind of continuation aspect. And now that I'm thinking about it... I could light the candle at the beginning of each video and blow it out at the end of each video.
I'm sure there are still some things I can finalize when it comes to prepping for Vlogtober, but I also want to leave some space for daily life, creative inspiration, and things I may not be thinking of right now to make their way into this series.
As of now, this is my Vlogtober video ideas list:
Fall decorating video: showing what decor I currently have around my home (point out thrifted, bought, DIY), my Pinterest fall mood board, DIY fall decor ideas and the process of making them, window shopping for fall decor at home goods or world market and getting inspiration for things I can make, decorating my room for fall
Fall grocery shopping video: showing gluten free fall and dairy free fall alternatives, fall drink ideas, caffeine free drinks for fall
Fall cook with me or fall baking video: apple crisp, candied pecans, banana muffins, pumpkin muffins, soup, date apples
Styling fall outfits video: most of mine would just happen to be thrifted fall sweaters paired with wide leg jeans
Halloween Costume video: taking inventory of what I already have at home, going to the costume store, DIY halloween costume ideas, practicing my hair and makeup, creating a Pinterest mood board for halloween costume inspiration
Craft with me video: taking inventory of what I already have, making a Pinterest mood board for fall craft inspiration, buying yarn for my crochet projects, DIY fall decor. Fall craft ideas: felt art, garland making, crocheting, junk journaling, watercolor, making a tie blanket
Cozy fall day in my life video: analog activities (children's book illustration, designing coloring pages, visiting the library), crafting, fall recipes, spending time outside
A day of reading video: my devotional, bible study, book notes and fiction book
A day of writing video: journaling, blogging, Substack
Nature adventure videos: walk with me, going to the riverwalk, watching the sunrise at the beach, a day at the park
Living like Rory Gilmore video: going to the coffee shop, bookstore, writing, fall outfit, attending a fall event
Fall movie night video: shopping for fall treats, pizza night, planning and creating a cozy vibe
Going to the pumpkin patch video
Pumpkin carving video
Halloween day video
Fall events video
and a few other unique videos central to my interests of aesthetics and the art of noticing. You'll just have to follow along if you're interested!
You can find my Vlogtober video diaries here:
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